GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Northern Kentucky (9-6, 1-2 HL) | Sunday, Jan. 5 - 3 PM | Athletics Center O'rena | Rochester, Michigan
 
COVERAGE BROADCAST
ESPN3, TV20 | TALENT: Neal Ruhl (PxP) and Dan Waterstradt (analyst) | RADIO: WDFN-AM (1130), iHeart Radio app | TALENT: Neal Ruhl (PxP) and Dan Waterstradt (analyst)

ROCHESTER, Michigan - The Oakland University men's basketball team looks to bounce back following its first league loss of the year, hosting Northern Kentucky on Sunday, January 5, at the Athletics Center O'rena. Tipoff is set for 3 pm. 

Despite the loss on Friday night to Wright State (13-3, 3-0 HL), five different Golden Grizzlies scored in double-figures. It was the first time Oakland (6-9, 1-1 HL) accomplished the feat since the season opener on November 5 against Goshen. Sophomore Tray Maddox Jr. and senior Xavier Hill-Mais led the way with 14 apiece. 

Over the last two games, the Golden Grizzlies have assisted on 43 of 55 field goals - good for 78-percent. Junior Kevin Kangu has a team-high 61 assists on the year, ranking fourth in the Horizon League. 

The series between Oakland and the Norse sits at an 11-11 deadlock. The road team has had the best of the series, as the Golden Grizzlies are 7-3 on the road and Northern Kentucky is 6-4 while playing the role of visitor. The Norse are 2-2 all-time in the O'rena - which opened in 1998. The series between Oakland and NKU dates back to December 10, 1977, in Rochester. Last time the two sides met was in the Horizon League Tournament Semifinal at Little Caesars Arena on March 11, 2019. Hill-Mais and fellow senior Brad Brechting went for 14 and 10 rebounds, respectively, in the 64-63 loss. 

Oakland swimming and diving will host its annual Mitten Toss during halftime of the game. Mitten Toss, a longtime tradition of Oakland swimming and diving, encourages fans to bring new or gently used mittens, gloves, scarves and winter hats to be thrown onto the court at halftime. All items donated will go to The Baldwin Center, a nonprofit organization that serves to feed, clothe, educate and empower the Pontiac community.

Northern Kentucky is coming off a 66-58 loss to Detroit Mercy on Friday night and has lost three of its last four. 

Inside the Series
Overall: Tied, 11-11
At Home: 4-6
At NKU: 7-3
At Neutral: 0-2
Current Streak: NKU, 2
Last Meeting: L, 64-63 - Horizon League Tournament Semifinal on March 11, 2019

Notes

• Freshman guard Blake Lampman was named the Freshman of the Week by the Horizon League on December 31. In the Golden Grizzlies' lone outing last week, Lampman finished with 12 points and a career-high five assists. Heading into the matchup with #MetroSeries rival Detroit Mercy, the Haslett, Michigan, native had been struggling from beyond the arc, going 1-of-15 over the previous two outings. Against the Titans, Lampman found his shot early, finishing the game 4-of-9. Lampman leads Oakland with 24 made triples on the year. 
• Sophomore guard Tray Maddox Jr. has hit at least one three-pointer in eight-straight games, the longest active streak on the team. Maddox has been hitting 42-percent from deep (13-of-31) since December. Maddox and freshman Blake Lampman  are the lone Golden Grizzlies to attempt at least 35 triples on the season. As a team, the three-point line has been an achilles heel for Oakland, shooting 27-percent from range. Lampman and Maddox have combined for 57-percent of the Golden Grizzlies 76 made three-point field goals. 
• Following Wright State's 96-point performance last time out, Oakland's scoring defense ranks second in the league at 67.1 points per game. The Golden Grizzlies held opponents to under 60 points four times this season. Opponents have hit just 40.5 percent of their field goals against Oakland, making the Golden Grizzlies' defense tops in the Horizon League in the category. Oakland's defense has done it without getting into foul trouble, ranking first in the conference for fewest fouls at 226 - 15.1 per game. 
• Oakland has been lending a helping hand as of late, dishing out 20-plus assists in each of the past two games. Last time out against Wright State, the Golden Grizzlies assisted on 21 of 26 made field goals (81-percent) and 22 of 29 (76-percent) made field goals against Detroit Mercy to open league play on Dec. 28. Junior Kevin Kangu leads Oakland with 61 assists this season - good for fourth in the Horizon League. 
•  Last time out, Coach Greg Kampe went 13-deep on the roster for the first time this season. Kampe has gone 12 deep on five occasions this season and at least 10 in 12 games this season.
• The Golden Grizzlies entered the weekend the fourth-highest ranked Horizon team in the most updated NET rankings. The NET relies on game results, strength of schedule, game location, scoring margin, net offensive and defensive efficiency, and the quality of wins and losses. Wright State (111), Northern Kentucky (138) and Green Bay (182) are the league foes in front of Oakland (213). 
• Oakland added 10 newcomers to the 2019-20 squad, including three transfers in Kevin Kangu (Vincennes University), Daniel Oladapo (Chipola College) and Rashad Williams (Cleveland State).